classical greek philosophy plato. classical greek philosophy plato greek philosophy

53
Classical Greek Philosophy Plato

Upload: angela-tolbert

Post on 01-Apr-2015

313 views

Category:

Documents


11 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Classical Greek Philosophy

Plato

Page 2: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Classical Greek Philosophy

Plato

Greek Philosophy

Page 3: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

My MentorSocrates

The heart of Socrates' teaching:

The unexamined life is not worth

living.

Page 4: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

Socratic MethodPosed questions and then questioned the answers

Searched for the ultimate nature of qualities

What is Duty?What is Truth?What is Evil?What is Ethical?

Page 5: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

Discussion

Illustration of the Socratic Method

Would someone volunteer?

Page 6: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

• Knowledge is intuitive and is merely revealed by learning

• Example using the Pythagorean Theorem

• Demonstration: Would someone who is not familiar with the theory behind the Pythagorean Theorem volunteer to help?

A non-science, non-engineering, non-math major

Page 7: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

aa

b

b

c

c

The Pythagorean Theorem states that the square area defined by length a plus the square area defined by length b equals the square area defined by length c.

a2 + b2 = c2

Page 8: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

aa

b

b

c

c

Using the hollow squares, rearrange the small squares and fit them together inside the largest square.

Page 9: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

Therefore: a2 + b2 = c2

Page 10: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

+ =

Conclusion: Everyone can learn everything

What have we learned from this example?

Page 11: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

DiscussionWhy are some subjects

harder than others for us? Right brain/left brain? (Similar to right handed/left

handed?)

What are the implications of Socrates’ idea for being creative?

Page 12: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Who, Truly is the Wisest?

I am called wise, for my hearers always imagine that I myself possess the wisdom which I find wanting in others: but the truth is, O men of Athens, that God only is wise; and by his answer he intends to show that the wisdom of men is worth little or nothing; he is not speaking of Socrates, he is only using my name by way of illustration, as if he said, O men, he is the wisest, who, like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing.

Socrates quoted by Plato in The Apology

Page 13: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

Convicted of “corrupting the youth” by the townspeople

Described by students as “the best and wisest” and “most noble” man.

Page 14: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Socrates

Deep philosophy about marriage

My advice is to get married:

if you find a good wife you’ll

be happy;

if not you’ll become a philosopher.

Page 15: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

Our senses sometimes deceive us.

Are the horizontal lines parallel?

How many legs does the elephant have?

Page 16: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

• Because our senses occasionally deceive us, they lead to opinions.

• But, there is an underlying truth that exists (even thought it may occasionally be hidden from our senses).

• The heart of Platonic philosophy is:

What is the real nature of things (that is, the fundamental or the truth)?

Page 17: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

What is this?Is the right angle perfectly

90º?

Conclusion: Only the Form of the angle is perfect.

Page 18: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

The Pythagorean theorem is only true when the angle is 90º.

Therefore, the Pythagorean theorem is only true in theory and not in actuality.

Page 19: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Form in Language

How can this be true?

Page 20: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteterby istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

Would a volunteer please read the following paragraph.

Conclusion: We are accustomed to approximate truths in this world

Page 21: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

What makes this a Chair?

Chairness

Page 22: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

What makes this a Chair?

The word “chair” represents all chairs (so the Form for chair is similar to the idea we get from the word).

Note: Form, information and DNA

Page 23: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

PlatoAllegory of the Cave

Page 24: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

PlatoAllegory of the Cave

Page 25: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

PlatoAllegory of the Cave

What are the shadows?

What are the real things?

Page 26: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

PlatoHierarchy of Value

MemoryMemory

PhysicalPhysical

Mental/MathematicalMental/Mathematical

FormForm

Lowest, least valuable

Changing, our world

Contemplative, theory

Highest, unchanging, remote

Page 27: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Government

Who should be the leaders?Analogy: Ship of State

• Should we let the common people take turns as the captain?

• Even worse, should we make decisions on how to steer the ship by voting? (Think of an airplane instead of a ship)

• Should we not, rather, choose as captain someone who has studied navigation and sailing and has knowledge (ie, a meritocracy)?

Page 28: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Government

Who should be the leaders?Analogy: Physician

• Should we treat someone by voting?

• Should we find someone who has knowledge?

Page 29: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Government

Who should be the leaders?State

• We should have a meritocracy.

• Those with knowledge in politics (government) should lead and they are the philosophers (that is, the well educated).

Page 30: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Creation of the World

• Done by the Demiurge (God).

• Used Forms as designs (blueprints).

• Used existing matter.Physical and, therefore, imperfect.

• Demiurge created the spirit of man.

• Lesser gods, created the body of man.

Hierarchy = soul > body

Page 31: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

What is perfection?Is it true that a perfect thing cannot

change? Perfection

Imperf

ect

ion Im

perfe

ction

Page 32: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

DiscussionDoes something physical change?

Plato

Page 33: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

DiscussionIs a passion always

the same and does it last forever?

Page 34: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

Therefore Nothing that is perfect can

be made of physical matter.

And Nothing that is perfect can have emotions (passions).

Page 35: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Plato

Therefore,God, who is perfect,

cannot have a physical body or emotions."God is without body, parts, or passions."God is a Form (perhaps he is the keeper of all

Forms)

Page 36: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Classical Greek Philosophy

PlatoDr. Strong

Page 37: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Classical Greek Philosophy

Discussion

How can God be perfect and be

consistent with LDS views?

Page 38: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Classical Greek Philosophy

DiscussionWhat is the meaning of perfection?

A plateau of stabilityCompleteness of mission

• This is the meaning of “Be ye therefore perfect” when translated correctly.

• Note that Christ did not include himself in this phrase in the Bible sermon but did in the Book of Mormon.

Perfection

Progression

Page 39: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

The Nature of God

What is the mission of a clock?

To tell the correct time

Does a “perfect clock” change?

Page 40: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Perfection

What is our mission?• Learn (but not everything)

• Experience with a body (but not everything)

• Obey (realizing we may not always do it)

• Repent (to fix when we don’t obey)

Putting a battery in a clock is like repentance.

Page 41: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Perfection

Some Latter-day saints seem to have different definitions of perfection when applied to God and when applied to people.

For God they do not accept Plato’s definition.For people (especially themselves) they use Plato’s definition.This conflict in thinking leads to frustrations and self-depreciation.They should use a new definition for both

Perfection

Progression

Perfection

Imperf

ect

ion

Imperfe

ction

Page 42: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Perfection

In 325 Constantine summoned the Christian leaders from all over the empire to a council at Nicaea (modern Iznik), on the shores of the Sea of Marmara. These leaders believed in widely differing interpretations of the Scriptures, but Constantine brow-beat them into accepting an official line on such matters as the divinity of Christ, and his equality with God. This was essentially a political move, enabling Constantine to strengthen his hold on the empire by merging the power of the Church with that of the state.

Strathern, Paul, Mendeleyev's Dream, New York: Berkley Books, 2000, p.38.

Page 43: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Christians Over the Centuries

God is a trinity.God is without body, parts, or passion.

Page 44: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Does God Have a Body?

What soul ever perished from believing that God the Father really has a beard?

C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm

Page 45: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Some Modern Christians

• The God Who Risks, Sanders • The Openness of God, Pinnock, et

al• BYU Studies, Number 48, No. 2,

2009Who God is does not change, but what God experiences does change. So, too, God is not impassible [without emotions], as the tradition has mostly insisted.

Page 46: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Some Modern Christians

• The God Who Risks, Sanders • The Openness of God, Pinnock, et

al• BYU Studies, Number 48, No. 2,

2009Maybe corporeality is a funny idea to many Christians and not one that we can easily entertain, but why rule it out when it has scriptural backing?

Latter-day Saints are entitled to a bit of ‘we told you so’ to more traditional Christians.

Page 47: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Joseph Smith

God the Father has a body.

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

D&C 130:22

Page 48: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

LDS

God’s body is not like our earthly body.

• Pass through walls• Does not decay

Therefore, we should not give others the impression that we believe God has a body like ours.

When stated thusly, the gap between LDS and Open God beliefs narrows significantly.

Page 49: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Joseph Smith

If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by His power, was to make Himself visible—I say, if you were to see Him today, you would see Him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man.

King Follett discourse (1843)

Page 50: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Joseph Smith

God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. . . .

King Follett discourse (1843)

Page 51: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Some Modern Christians

• The God Who Risks, Sanders • The Openness of God, Pinnock, et

al• BYU Studies, Number 48, No. 2,

2009We have not felt comfortable saying that humans ‘become gods,’ as Latter-day Saints have, even though we know that early Christians did speak of our human destiny in such terms. . .

Page 52: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Some Modern Christians

• The God Who Risks, Sanders • The Openness of God, Pinnock, et

al• BYU Studies, Number 48, No. 2,

2009Sacred scripture affirms that God is both able and willing to transform us into his likeness. Why then should we call such transformation impossible or even qualify God’s promises in ways he does not?

Page 53: Classical Greek Philosophy Plato. Classical Greek Philosophy Plato Greek Philosophy

Thank You

Greek philosophy permeates the

world